Wired headphones, once squeezed to the margins by wireless Bluetooth headphones, have recently unexpectedly experienced a resurgence.

On April 10, Jiemian News reporters found on social platforms that there are many posts asking for recommendations on wired headphones, sharing usage experiences of wired headphones, and reporting on a surge in sales of wired headphones. The topic "20 yuan old-school wired headphones sales surge, outperforming thousand-yuan wireless ones" has sparked heated discussions.

According to a report from market research firm Circana, after a five-year decline in sales, the wired headphone market has made a strong rebound, with sales increasing by 20% in just the first three months of 2026.

According to media reports, offline retailers in many areas have also been affected. Previously, wired headphones were placed in corners with few people asking about them, but now young people come every day to choose, especially those with fashionable and aesthetically pleasing designs. Sales of wired headphones have increased by about 30% compared to before, and during peak seasons, some stores have monthly sales exceeding 1,000 units.

The popularity of wired headphones is even more pronounced online. According to data from e-commerce platforms, in the past month, the search volume for "stylish wired headphones" has doubled. Many niche brands that focus on retro designs have also become new products featured in live-streaming rooms.

Jiemian News reporters searched on Taobao by sales volume and found that wired headphones from brands such as Baseus have sales in the tens of thousands, with prices ranging from tens to hundreds of yuan. In addition, influenced by the pursuit of fashion and personalized needs among young people, some colorful and design-oriented wired headphones have also gained popularity. For example, a dotted-pattern wired headphone priced at 58 yuan has sold more than 1,000 units. The specific page shows that red dotted-pattern and cream-yellow dotted-pattern models are still in stock, while other color options are out of stock. Customer service replied that it is currently uncertain when they will be restocked.

Data from the Xueyouta platform shows that multiple models of wired headphones have seen price increases due to limited inventory. The most popular wired headphones recently are Apple EarPods (Type-C version), with recent sales exceeding 100,000 units. In the past month, the market transaction price has risen from 128 yuan to a peak of 144 yuan, an increase of 16 yuan or 12%. In addition, affordable wired headphones such as Baseus H17 and vivo IQOO have also experienced simultaneous increases in sales and prices. Among them, the transaction price of Baseus H17 has risen by as much as 46%, with sales surpassing 31,000 units.

However, it should be noted that this recent revival of wired headphones has not changed the established pattern of the consumer electronics market.